Protective case for adding wireless functionality to a handheld electronic device

ABSTRACT

A protective case for an electronic device may comprise a wireless adaptor for adding wireless capabilities, including support of additional wireless communication protocols, to the electronic device. The system may enable, for example, location based services functions, social networking functions, and messaging functions.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/290,273, filed on Mar. 1, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/037,739, filed on Jul. 17, 2018, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/809,188, filed onNov. 10, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/475,495, filed on Mar. 31, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/242,932, filed on Aug. 22, 2016, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/590,507, filed onJan. 6, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,425,847, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/549,102, filed on Jul. 13, 2012, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,929,961, which in turn makes reference to, claimspriority to, and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/572,390, filed on Jul. 15, 2011. Each of the aboveidentified applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This patent application also makes reference to:

-   U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/464,376 entitled    “Advanced Communication System for Wide-Area Low Power Wireless    Applications and Active RFID” and filed on Mar. 2, 2011;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/267,640 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Adaptive Searching of Distributed Datasets,” filed on    Oct. 6, 2011, and now published as United States Patent Application    Publication 2012/0087267;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/267,621 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Low-Power, Long-Range Networking,” filed on Oct. 6,    2011, and now published as United States Patent Application    Publication 2012/0087350;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/270,802 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for a Multi-band, Multi-mode Smartcard,” filed on Oct. 11,    2011, and now published as United States Patent Application    Publication 2012/008449;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/270,959 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for an Integrated Antenna,” filed on Oct. 11, 2011, and    now published as United States Patent Application Publication    2012/0086615;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/289,054 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Electronic Payment,” filed on Nov. 4, 2011, and now    published as United States Patent Application Publication    2012/0116887;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/297,348 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Interfacing with a Smartcard,” filed on Nov. 16, 2011,    and now published as United States Patent Application Publication    2012/0118952;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/354,513 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Memory Management” and filed on Jan. 20, 2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/354,615 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Discovering, People, Products, and/or Services via a    Localized Wireless Network” and filed on Jan. 20, 2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/396,708 entitled “Method and    apparatus for Plug and Play, Networkable ISO 18000-7 Connectivity”    and filed on Feb. 15, 2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/396,739 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Serving Advertisements in a Low-Power Wireless    Network” and filed on Feb. 15, 2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,440 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Forward Error Correction (FEC) in a    Resource-Constrained Network” and filed on Feb. 29, 2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,447 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Adaptive Traffic Management in a Resource-Constrained    Network” and filed on Feb. 29, 2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/408,453 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Dynamic Media Access Control in a Multiple Access    System” and filed on Feb. 29, 2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,457 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Rapid Group Synchronization” and filed on Feb. 29,    2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,461 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Addressing in a Resource-Constrained Network” and    filed on Feb. 29, 2012;-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,464 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Query-Based Congestion Control” and filed on Feb. 29,    2012; and-   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,466 entitled “Method and    Apparatus for Power Autoscaling in a Resource-Constrained Network”    and filed on Feb. 29, 2012.

Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present application generally relate to wirelesscommunications. More specifically, to a method and apparatus for addingwireless functionality to a handheld electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Wireless adaptors are often cumbersome, inefficient, and lacking infeatures. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional andtraditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art,through comparison of such approaches with some aspects of the presentmethod and apparatus set forth in the remainder of this disclosure withreference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A method and/or apparatus is provided for adding wireless functionalityto a handheld electronic device, substantially as illustrated by and/ordescribed in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forthmore completely in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example protective case with integrated wirelessadaptor for a handheld electronic device.

FIG. 2 depicts an example module of the protective case shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts an example handheld electronic device that is operable tointerface with the case described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating communication by a system comprisinga smartphone and a protective case with integrated wireless adaptor.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating messaging operations performed by asystem comprising a smartphone and a protective case with integratedwireless adaptor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating social network operations performedby a system comprising a smartphone and a protective case withintegrated wireless adaptor.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating connection initialization operationsperformed by a system comprising a smartphone and a protective case withintegrated wireless adaptor.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating determining location in a systemcomprising a smartphone and a protective case with integrated wirelessadaptor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer tophysical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/orfirmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by thehardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As utilizedherein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joinedby “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of thethree-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, “x, y, and/orz” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y),(x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the terms “block” and“module” refer to functions than can be performed by one or morecircuits. As utilized herein, the term “example” means serving as anon-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, theterm “e.g.,” introduces a list of one or more non-limiting examples,instances, or illustrations.

FIG. 1 depicts an example protective case with integrated wirelessadaptor for a handheld electronic device. Referring to FIG. 1, theexample case 100 comprises walls 102 a-102 e to encase a handhelddevice. The walls 102 a-102 d of this example implementation arearranged such that a handheld device mounts to the case 100 by slidingin from the top (as indicated by arrow 120) and, once the handheld ismounted, the arrange may be as follows: an inner surface of wall 102 afaces a front side (e.g., screen and/or bezel) of the handheld device;an inner surface of the wall 102 b faces a right side of the handhelddevice; an inner surface of the wall 102 c faces a left side of thehandheld device; an inner surface of the wall 102 d faces a back side ofthe handheld device; and an inner surface of the wall 102 e faces thebottom of the handheld device. Thus, the example case 100 substantiallyencases the mounted handheld device such that: the device is secured inthe case 100 and does not inadvertently fall out of the case 100, thedevice is protected from scratches, and/or the handheld device isprotected from damage in the event that it is dropped. The dimensions ofthe handheld device plus case 100 when the device is mounted may besubstantially similar to the dimensions of the handheld device when itis not mounted in the case 100. For example, each of the walls 102 a-102d may be on the order of millimeters in thickness and the wall 102 e maybe on the order of tens of millimeters in thickness.

In the example case 100, the walls 102 a-102 e may be made of rubber orplastic (or other suitable material). The wall 102 a has a cut-out toallow access to a touchscreen of the mounted handheld device. The wall102 d has an antenna 110 embedded in it. The wall 102 e has cutouts 104a and 104 b to enable access to features (e.g., speakers) of thehandheld device, has a cutout 104 c to enable connection (e.g., via aUSB cable) to a device (e.g., a laptop or desktop computer) that is notmounted in the case 100, and has a module 112 embedded in it (and isthus thicker than walls 102 a-102 d to accommodate the module 112).

FIG. 2 depicts an example module of the case shown in FIG. 1. Theexample module 112 may function as a wireless adaptor and comprises aCPU 212, memory 214, input/output (I/O) module 216, radio module 218,connector 220, and connector 222.

The CPU 212 may be operable to control operation of the wireless case100. The CPU 212 may, for example, execute an operating system, and/orother programs (e.g., programs that implement one or more layers of anetwork protocol stack) to, for example, process data, manage transfersof data, and/or control operation of the various modules of the case100.

The memory module 214 may comprise, for example, RAM, configurationregisters, and/or mass storage (e.g., a hard drive and/or flash memory).The memory module 210 may comprise program memory that may store code tobe executed by the CPU 212, run-time data that may be generated as aresult of the CPU 212 executing code, parameters which configure one ormore of the modules of the case 100, and/or data received via the busses224 a and 224 b. The case 100 may support a mode of operation in which adevice to which the case 100 is mounted can use memory 214 as a massstorage device (e.g., a USB mass storage device).

The I/O module 216 may be operable to manage or facilitate transfersover and/or among data busses 226, 224 a and 224 b. In an exampleimplementation, I/O module 216 may perform packet-based switching orrouting among data busses 226, 224, and 224 b. In an exampleimplementation, protocols used on the busses 226, 224 a, and 224 b maycomprise, for example, one or more of USB, IEEE 1394, Ethernet, PCMCIA,PCI-X, and/or any other suitable protocol(s). In an exampleimplementation, the I/O module 216 may operate as a passthrough suchthat the connector 222 is (or appears to devices connected to connector222 and connector 220 as if it is) directly connected (i.e. “wired”) tothe connector 220. In an example implementation, the I/O module 216 mayoperate a selective passthrough such that sometimes, and/or for somedevices, the connector 220 and connector 222 are (or appear to be) wiredtogether and sometimes, and/or for some devices, are not (or appear notto be) wired together.

For transmission, the radio 218 may be operable to receive data via thebus 226, packetize the data, encode the data, convert the data toanalog, modulate the data onto one or more carriers, and/or otherwiseprocess the data to prepare it for transmission via antenna 110 inaccordance with one or more wireless protocols. For reception, the radio218 may be operable to receive data RF signals via antenna 110,downconvert, demodulate, decode, convert to digital, and/or otherwiseprocess the received signals to recover data contained therein, and makethe data available to the bus 226. In an example implementation, theradio 218 may support one or more wireless communication protocols notsupported by a handheld device with which the case 100 is designed tointerface. Example wireless communication protocols which may besupported by the radio 218 include the ISO 18000-7 standard, andprotocols described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/267,640(“Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Searching of Distributed Datasets”)and Ser. No. 13/267,621 (“Method and Apparatus for Low-Power, Long-RangeNetworking”), which are incorporated herein by reference as set forthabove.

The antenna 110 may be operable to transmit and receive electromagneticsignals in one or more frequency bands. In an embodiment of theinvention, the antenna 110 may be operable to transmit and receivesignals in the ISM frequency band centered at 433.92 MHz.

The connector 220 may enable electrical connection of the case 100 to ahandheld electronic device 300 mounted in the case 100. The connector220 may comprise pins suitable for carrying the protocol(s) utilized onthe bus 224 a. In an example implementation, the connector 220 may be amale connector.

The connector 222 may enable electrical connection of an electronicdevice (e.g., a computer) to the case 100 while a handheld device ismounted in the case 100 and/or to the handheld electronic device mountedin the case 100. The connector 222 may comprise pins suitable forcarrying the protocol(s) utilized on the bus 224 b which may comprise,for example, USB, IEEE 1394, Ethernet, and/or any other suitableprotocol. In an example implementation, the connector 222 may be afemale connector.

FIG. 3 depicts an example handheld electronic device that is operable tointerface with the case with integrated wireless adaptor described withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The example device 300 comprises a CPU 312,a memory 304, an I/O module 306, a radio 308, and a connector 310. Thehandheld device 300 may be, for example, a tablet computer orsmartphone.

The CPU 302 may be operable to control operation of the handheldwireless device 300. The CPU 302 may, for example, execute an operatingsystem, and/or other programs (e.g., programs that implement one or morelayers of a network protocol stack) to, for example, process data,manage transfers of data, and/or control operation of the variousmodules of the handheld device 300.

The memory module 304 may comprise, for example, RAM, configurationregisters, and/or mass storage (e.g., a hard drive and/or flash memory).The memory module 304 may be comprise program memory that may store codeto be executed by the CPU 302, run-time data that may be generated as aresult of the CPU 212 executing code, parameters which configure one ormore of the modules of the case 100, and/or data received via the bus312.

The I/O module 306 may be operable to manage or facilitate transfersover and/or between data busses 312 and 314. In an exampleimplementation, protocols used on the busses 314 and 314 may comprise,for example, one or more of USB, IEEE 1394, Ethernet, PCMCIA, PCI-X,and/or any other suitable protocol(s).

For transmission, the radio 308 may be operable to receive data via thebus 226, packetize the data, encode the data, convert the data toanalog, modulate the data onto one or more carriers, and/or otherwiseprocess the data to prepare it for transmission via antenna 316 inaccordance with one or more wireless protocols. For reception, the radio308 may be operable to receive data RF signals via antenna 316,downconvert, demodulate, decode, convert to digital, and/or otherwiseprocess the received signals to recover data contained therein, and makethe data available to the bus 314. In an example implementation, theradio 308 may support, cellular protocols, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Bluetooth,and/or other wireless communication protocols but may not support one ormore wireless communication protocols supported by the case 100. Examplewireless communication protocols which may be supported by the radio 218include the ISO 18000-7 standard, and protocols described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/267,640 (“Method and Apparatus for AdaptiveSearching of Distributed Datasets”) and Ser. No. 13/267,621 (“Method andApparatus for Low-Power, Long-Range Networking”), which are incorporatedby reference above.

The antenna 316 may be operable to transmit and receive electromagneticsignals in one or more frequency bands. In an embodiment of theinvention, the antenna 316 may be operable to transmit and receivesignals in frequency bands utilized by cellular, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetoothprotocols.

The connector 310 may enable electrical connection of the handhelddevice 300 to other devices. The connector 310 may comprise pinssuitable for carrying the protocol(s) utilized on the bus 312. In anexample implementation, the connector 310 may be a female connector.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating communication by a system comprisinga smartphone and a protective case with integrated wireless adaptor. Theexample steps begin with step 402 in which the case 100 is mounted tothe handheld device 300. In step 404, information is exchanged, via bus224 a, connector 220, connector 310, and bus 312, between the case 100and the device 300 to establish a connection between the device 300 andcase 100. In step 406, the device 300 generates data to be transmittedand outputs the data to the connector 300. In step 408, the case 100receives, via connector 220, the data generated in step 406. In step410, the case 100 processes the data (e.g., based on commands receivedalong with the data) and transmits the data via the radio.

In step 412, the case may receive data via the radio 218. The data maybe, for example, a response to the data transmitted in step 410. In thisregard, the communications via the radio 218 may be part of an adaptivesearch as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/267,640,which is incorporated by reference above. In step 414, the case 100 mayoutput the data to the connector 220. In step 416, the device 300 mayreceive the received data via connector 310. In step 418, the device 300may process the data and present it, and/or related information to auser.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating messaging operations performed by asystem comprising a smartphone and a protective case with integratedwireless adaptor. The example steps begin with step 502 in which thecase 100 is mounted to the handheld device 300. In step 504, informationis exchanged, via bus 224 a, connector 220, connector 310, and bus 312,between the case 100 and the device 300 to establish a connectionbetween the device 300 and case 100. In step 506, a user of the device300 launches a messaging application, creates a message to be sent to aanother device (e.g., a device like the device 300 that is mounted to acase like the case 100) which may be reachable via some uniqueidentifier (e.g., phone number, voice mail, IP address, etc.), andclicks “send.” In step 508, the device 300 informs the case 100 of themessage to be sent and the case 100 determines whether the other devicecan be reached via the radio 218. If so, then in step 512 the message istransmitted via the radio 218. If not, then in step 510 the message istransmitted via radio 308. In an example implementation, the message maybe an SMS (short messaging service) or MMS (multimedia messagingservice) message. Accordingly, when the other device is in range of theradio 218 the SMS or MMS message may be converted to a format suitablefor the radio 218 and transmitted via the radio 218 rather than via acellular transmitter of the device 300. In an example implementation,the radio 218 may be lower power and/or lower cost. Sending the messagevia the radio 218 may be lower cost because, for example, thefrequencies over which the radio 218 communicates may not require alicense in the location in which the message is being transmitted, andor the license required is less expensive than the cost to send an MMSor SMS message via a cellular carrier associated with the radio 308.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating social network operations performedby a system comprising a smartphone and a protective case withintegrated wireless adaptor. The example steps begin with step 602 inwhich the case 100 is mounted to the handheld device 300. In step 604,information is exchanged, via bus 224 a, connectors 220, connector 310,and bus 312, between the case 100 and the device 300 to establish aconnection between the device 300 and case 100. In step 606, a userconfigures (e.g., via a graphical user interface (GUI) running on thedevice 300) profile information (e.g., the user's “likes” and“dislikes,” the user's affiliations, products the user isusing/carrying/wearing, the user's online URLs/handles/identifiers,etc.) that the user wishes to share with other that are in-range of theradio 218. In step 608, the device 300 may store the profile informationto the memory 214 and the profile information may then be broadcast(e.g., periodically) via the radio 218.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating connection initialization operationsperformed by a system comprising a smartphone and a protective case withintegrated wireless adaptor. The example steps begin with step 702 inwhich the case 100 is mounted to the handheld device 300. In describingthe steps of FIG. 7, it is assumed that the radio 308 supports a firstwireless protocol such as, for example, Bluetooth, which has a shorterrange than the second wireless protocol(s) supported by the radio 218.

In step 704, information is exchanged, via bus 224 a, connectors 220,connector 310, and bus 312, between the case 100 and the device 300 toestablish a connection between the device 300 and case 100. In step 706,the case 100 determines (e.g., via transmission and/or reception ofbeacons, probes, and/or other messages via the radio 218) that the itand the device 300 mounted to it are approaching a another device whichhas one or more radios that support the first wireless protocol (e.g.,Bluetooth) and the second wireless protocol (e.g., protocols describedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/267,640 (“Method and Apparatusfor Adaptive Searching of Distributed Datasets”) and Ser. No. 13/267,621(“Method and Apparatus for Low-Power, Long-Range Networking”), which areincorporated herein by reference as set forth above.

In step 708, the case 100 communicates with the other device via theradio 218 to exchange information for setting up a connection betweenthe radio 308 and the second device, in anticipation of the other devicecoming within range of the radio 308. In step 710, the other devicebecomes in-range of the radio 308 and the information exchanged in step708 is utilized to quickly establish a connection between the radio 308and the other device. In this manner, the radio 218 enables out-of-bandsetup (or at least partial setup) of a network connection between theradio 308 and the other device while the other device is out-of-range ofthe radio 308.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating determining location in a systemcomprising a smartphone and a protective case with integrated wirelessadaptor. The example steps begin with step 802 in which the case 100 ismounted to the handheld device 300. In step 804, information isexchanged, via bus 224 a, connector 220, connector 310, and bus 312,between the case 100 and the device 300 to establish a connectionbetween the device 300 and case 100. In step 806, the device 300requests location information from the case 100. In step 808, the case100 searches for tags (e.g., ISO 18000-7 compliant tags) and/or otherdevices which are in range of the radio 218. The search may, forexample, be performed as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/267,640 (“Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Searching of DistributedDatasets”), which is incorporated herein by reference as set forthabove. In step 810, the case 100 may determine its location based onresponses received in step 808. For example, the case 100 maytriangulate is location based on the number of responses received, theidentity of devices or tags from which responses were received, and/orthe timing with which the responses were received. The determination oflocation may comprise consulting a local and/or remote database whichstores the location of tags and/or devices. In step 812 the case 100 mayconvey the determined location to the device 300.

Other implementations may provide a non-transitory computer readablemedium and/or storage medium, and/or a non-transitory machine readablemedium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machine codeand/or a computer program having at least one code section executable bya machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computerto perform the steps as described herein for using a device case withintegrated wireless adaptor.

Accordingly, the present method and/or apparatus may be realized inhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Thepresent method and/or apparatus may be realized in a centralized fashionin at least one computing system, or in a distributed fashion wheredifferent elements are spread across several interconnected computingsystems. Any kind of computing system or other apparatus adapted forcarrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typicalcombination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computingsystem with a program or other code that, when being loaded andexecuted, controls the computing system such that it carries out themethods described herein. Another typical implementation may comprise anapplication specific integrated circuit or chip.

The present method and/or apparatus may also be embedded in a computerprogram product, which comprises all the features enabling theimplementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded ina computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer programin the present context means any expression, in any language, code ornotation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having aninformation processing capability to perform a particular functioneither directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversionto another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a differentmaterial form.

While the present method and/or apparatus has been described withreference to certain implementations, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents maybe substituted without departing from the scope of the present methodand/or apparatus. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the presentdisclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intendedthat the present method and/or apparatus not be limited to theparticular implementations disclosed, but that the present method and/orapparatus will include all implementations falling within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective case, the protective case comprising a first connector via which said protective case can connect to a corresponding connector of a handheld electronic device, and a first radio operable to communicate in accordance with a wireless communication protocol.
 2. The protective case of claim 1 comprising a second connector via which said protective case can connect to a third device while said protective case is connected to said handheld electronic device via said first connector.
 3. The protective case of claim 1, wherein said first radio is operable to broadcast user profile information associated with a user of said handheld electronic device.
 4. The protective case of claim 3, wherein said user profile information comprises one or more of: affiliations of a user of said handheld electronic device; items currently being worn and/or used by said user of said handheld electronic device is; products recommended by said user of said handheld electronic device; a URL of an online profile of said user.
 5. The protective case of claim 1 comprising comprises flash memory that is operable to function as a USB mass storage device.
 6. The protective case of claim comprising circuitry operable to determine a location of said system based on communications between said first radio and one or more tags.
 7. The protective case of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a rubber or plastic body with an antenna and circuitry embedded therein.
 8. A system comprising: a handheld electronic device that comprises a first radio operable to communicate in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol; a protective case mounted to said handheld electronic device, wherein said protective case comprises a second radio that is operable to communicate in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said system is operable to: in response to a detection that said system is approaching another device, exchange information with said other device via said second radio, wherein: said information is for establishing a wireless connection between said first radio and said other device; at least part of said information is exchanged while said other device is out-of-range of said first radio.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said first radio is a Bluetooth radio.
 11. The system claim 8, wherein said system is operable to: determine whether a destination device for which said MMS or SMS message is destined is within range of said second radio; choose which of said first radio and said second radio to use for transmitting said MMS or SMS based on said determination; and transmit said MMS or SMS message via said chosen radio.
 12. A method performed by a protective case that comprises a first radio and a first connector, the method comprising: receiving first data from said handheld electronic device via said first connector; transmitting said first data via said first radio; receiving, via said first radio, second data from another device; and communicating said second data to said handheld electronic device via said first connector.
 13. The method of claim 12, comprising determining a location of said protective case based on said second data.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said second data is received from one or more tags operable to communicate in accordance with ISO-18000-7 protocols.
 15. The method of claim 12, comprising, prior to said transmitting said first data, processing said first data to make it suitable for transmission via said first radio.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein: said first data is received from said handheld electronic device in the form of an SMS or MMS message; and said first radio transmits said first data utilizing frequency spectrum that is unlicensed in the location in which said first radio performs said transmitting.
 17. The method of 12, wherein: said first data and said second data comprise information for setting up a connection between a radio of said handheld electronic device and said other device; said transmitting of said first data is in response to detecting that said case is approaching said other device; said transmitting of said first data and receiving of said second data occur while said other device is out-of-range of said radio of said handheld electronic device.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said radio of said handheld electronic device is a Bluetooth radio. 